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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Cecil Beaton: High Society

There was a time when glamour was celebrated, beauty was venerated and high society was all in between. This was during the two WorldWars when the definition of chic and style were in flux, but glamour was unquestioned. And whenever glamour was there, photographer and designer Cecil Beaton was there.

He began his career as a costume designer although his passion for photography was already stirring in him ever since he got a Kodak camera when he was just a boy. Before long, he was given a staff position in British Vogue and he soon became a noted photographer, dividing his time between fashion shoots (such as the one with the ladies dressed in gowns designed by Charles James above) and portrait sessions (such as the rest of the images in this post).

Among Beaton's numerous subjects, The British Royal Family stands out above all others in terms of class and substance in the photographer's catalogue of works. The elegance and grace of Beaton's Royal sitters and their surroundings probably suited him very well, and in many photographs the extravagance of the setting juxtaposed against the quiet and dignified Royals made for a striking combination.

Outside the world of photography, Beaton was known for his talents in designing theatrical sets and costumes. His most notable triumph in this field came in 1956 when he was tasked to design the costumes for Lerner and Loewe's musical My Fair Lady. He would later on lend his hand in the film adaptation as well as the film musical Gigi and many others.